Kazaziye — Trabzon Woven Silver

Kazaziye is often filed under filigree in English, and it is not the same thing. Telkari fills an open frame with soldered wire and leaves the gaps showing; kazaziye weaves fine silver or gold wire over a core, like braiding, and comes out dense and rope-like with no negative space. The craft belongs to Trabzon on the Black Sea coast, where the Trabzon hasiri weave — the flat plaited band you see on bracelets and collars — is still worked by hand. Fine silver is often used rather than 925, because purer silver is softer and takes the weave better.